Rotary engine.



C. BOYD.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPucAHon FILED IULY 21.1915.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

3 $HEETS-SHEET I.

ZZZ/Z2? 5%W C. C. BOYD.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.191'5.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III,"

g TOR /ZZ% ATTORNEY C. C. BOYD.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 21 Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3.

uNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BOYD, F WESTBURY, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed July 21, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BOYD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resldent of VVestbury, Nassau county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to rotary internal combustion engines, and has forone object to provide an improved device of this character that shall beparticularly adapted for the propulsion of motor vehicles.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forthhereinafter, and in order that my invention may be thoroughly understoodI will now proceed to describe the same in the following specificationand then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation with a portionof the cooling fan broken away, of a rotary engine arranged andconstructed in accordance with my invention. A transverse sectionalelevation of the engine is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. is a sectional plan view of the rotor..

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation in a longitudinal plane. Fig. 5corresponds to a portion of Fig. 2, but shows the cooperating pistons inother positions. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail through the inlet port.Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views, taken respectively on the lines 77 ofFig. 2 and 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of the rotorpacking on a larger scale.

10 designates the stator, and 11 the rotor of av rotary engine which isequipped with a carbureter 12, a magneto 13 and has an inlet pipe 14, anexhaust pipe 15, a water jacket 16, a water reservoir 17 connectedthereto, and a cooling fan 18.

The stator 10 is divided in a central transverse plane, into sections 19and 20 which are circular in form and are secured together by anysuitable means, such as bolts 21, which extend through suitable holes inflanges 22. The body of the stator has the form of a torous ring and hasoutwardly extending lugs 23 by which it may be supported in a well knownmanner. Integral with the body are bearing brackets 24 having bearings25 in which a shaft 26 is rotatively mounted.

The rotor 11 has a central hub 27 which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Serial No. 41,046.

is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 26, and a radial disk 28which constitutes the body of the rotor. Projecting radially be yond thecircumference of the disk 28 are a pair of diametrically oppositeprojections 30 and 31 and secured to these projections are a pair ofrevolving pistons 32 and 33.

The stator furthermore, comprises central hubs 31 31 which closely fitonto the rotor hub 27 and form bearings therefor, and radial webs and3636 which connect the ring-shaped body to the hubs. The arrangement ofparts is such that the rotor disk 28 fits closely in a thin annularspace formed between the webs while the pistons 32 and 33 fit closelyand, are adapted to slide in an annular chamber 38 which is circular incross-section as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The projections 30 and 31 ofthe rotor disk extend into the ring-shaped chamber 38, as shown in Fig.2, and steel packing ring segments 39 are utilized, as clearly shown inFigs. 4 and 9, for sealing the joint between the rotor and the statorand between the revolving pistons 32 and 33 at the circumference of thechamber 38.

The webs 36 of the stator form parts of the outer shell which correspondin shape to the inner shell already described and are spaced from it toproduce the water jacket 16. The chamber 38 has an outlet port 40 whichcommunicates with the exhaust pipe 15 as shown in Fig. 2, and at a pointalmost opposite the outlet port it opens into a cylinder 11. \Vithin thecylinder is a sleeve 42 having a piston 43 at its inner end and withinthe sleeve is a. piston 44. The sleeve 42, together with the piston 43,has secured to it a pair of'rods 45 which extend outwardly throughsuitable packing in the end of the cylinder and are joined by a yoke-16.

The piston 14 has a single piston rod 47 which also extends through asuitable packing in the cylinder and through a bearing 48 in the yoke16.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 4, cams 50 and 51' are secured to arotatable cam shaft 52 which is opcrativcly connected to the engineshaft 26 by gears 53 and 54. Each of the cams has a pair of ra n slots55 near its periphery with which a pair of rollers 56 cooperate. Theserollers are mounted on the arms of forks 57 which extend over the edgesof the cams, as shown in Fig. 4. Actuating rods 58 and 59 are connectedto the forks and are moved in response to the cams 5O and 51 fespcctively. yoke (10 connects the' outer end of the piston rod 4? withthe actuating rod while the rods- 45 are connected to the actuating rod5!) by the yoke 46 which has a projection (ii for the purpose. Thus, thepistons 43 and 44 are moved in response to the cams and :31.

The pistons 43 and 44 are respectively provided with check valves (33and (34 which open oppositely and are held closed by suitable springs(35 and (30, except when they are opened as hereinafter explained.

The cylinder 41 is provided with an outer casing {.37 which isspaced-from the cylinder and constitutes a portion of the water jacket10. .\t the upper end of the'cylinder 41 the water jacket is connectedbv a pipe (38 to the water reservoir 1'7. the tank hei-ng'also connectedto the water jacket by a pair ofports (39.

The inlet pipe 14 which leads from the. ca rbureter .12, is connectedto. the cylinder 41 at its outer end. through a check valve as clearlyshown in Fig. (i, the carburetor being providedwitli an-air inlet 71 andsecured to the stator, as shown in Fig. .4.

The magneto 13 is'convenie'ntlymounted on one of the bearings and isoperatively connected to the shaft QG-by gears'TZ.

The sleeve 42 is arranged to slide inwardly into the. position shown in.Fig. '2 and to temporarily constitute a complete barrier-in the ringchamber 38. are'so constructed thatthe piston 44 is close to the piston-.43 whenthe latter is in its extremc inner position as shown in Fig. 2and is separated materially therefrom when the piston at the oppositeend of .its stroke as shown in Fig. 5. i

- The operation of the engine is as follows:Assuming that the shaft 26is ro tilting in a counterclockwise direction (see Fig. 2), the pistonsand 33am continu ously revolving about the axis ofthe shaft as theyslide in the annular chamber 38 which, as already pointed out. iscircular in cross-sectioi'i. 'Thecams are timed in their action relativeto the rotor so that the piston 43 moves into the position shown in Fig.2 immediately follmving each of the revolving pistons 32 and 33 in itsmovement across the opening into the cyliiider 41-. The speed of thepiston 43 and the sleeve 42 is sufiicient to overtake the revolvingpiston 33, bringing a. stem of the check valve 63 into engagement with abeveled end surface 81 of the piston. This engagement causes the checkvalve to open in opposition to the spring (i5 and admits an explosivemixture,

.which has just. been highly compressed between the pistons 43 and 44,into the small space between thcpiston 43 and the revolv ing piston 33.Into this space extends a spark plug, or other ignition device 82, whichis timed in a well-known manner, to

The cams 50 and 51' fire the explosive mixture. The force of theexplosion reacts against the piston 44 but produces useful work byacting upon the surface 81 of the revolving piston 33 which continues tomove with the rotor which it is driving.

\Vhcn the revolving piston 32 moves into the. position occupied by therevolving pis ton 3 indig. 2, the action is repeated. and when therevolving piston 33 passes the opening 40 into the exhaust pipe 15. theburnt gases are permitted to escape. i i

The remainder of the cycle, with reference tothe cylinder 41 andthepistons 43 and 44, will bereadily understood, a new chargebein; drawninto the cylinder above the piston 44 during the stroke which brings theparts into the. position shown in Fig. 2. This charge is slightlycompressed during the re.-

verse stroke and is forced into the space be-- tween the pistons throughthe check valves (34 when the pistons occupy the positions shown in Fig.5. The charge thus pocketed between the pistons is'highly compressedwhile another charge is being drawn in behind the piston 44.

Various structural i'nodificatioiis may be effected within the spiritand scope of my invention. and I. intend that only such limiappendedclaims. a

\Vhat I claim is;

l. A rotary internalcombustion engine comprising an annular chamber, arevolving tations be imposed as are indicated in the piston therein, anexhaust port'communieating with the chamber" at one side, a cyl- 'in leropening into the chamber .atthe opposite side a piston operating in thecyl inder and having acheck valve actuated by the revolving piston andmeans for com pressing an explosiveinixtureback of the piston in thecylinder. i

2. A rotary internal coniibustion comprising anannular chamber, a pair orevolving pistons therein, an exhaust port. communicating with thechamber at one side. a cylinder opening .into the chamber at theopposite side, a piston operating in the cylinder and having a checkvalve directly actuated by the revolving pistons, and means forcompressing an explosive mixture back of the piston in thc'cylinder. 3.A rotary internal combustion engine comprising an annular chamber, apair of revolving pistons therein, an exhaust port communicating withthe chamber at one side. a cylinder opening into the chamber at theopposite side, a pistonoperating in the cylinder and having a checkvalve adapted to be controlled by the revolving pistons. and a secondpiston in the cylinder adjacent to the first for compressing anexplosive mixture therein.

4. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising an annular chamber, apair of engine revolving pistons therein, an exhaust port communicatingwith the chamber at one side, a cylinder opening into the chamber at theopposite side, a sleeve piston operating in the cylinder and having avalve in its lower end, means for reciprocating the sleeve piston toperiodically enter the annular chamber and constitute a barrier therein,and means for compressing an explosive charge in the cylinder back ofthe piston, said valve being adapted to be opened by the revolvingpistons in the chamber.

5. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising an annular chamber, apair of revolving pistons therein, an exhaust port communicating withthe chamber at one side, a cylinder opening into the chamber at theopposite side, a sleeve piston operating in the cylinder and having avalve in its lower end, means for reciprocating the sleeve piston toperiodically enter the annular chamber and constitute a barrier therein,and a second piston Within the sleeve piston and cooperating therewithto compress an explosive mixture, said valve being adapted to be openedby the revolving piston in the chamber.

6. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber,a cylinder adjacent thereto, a sleeve piston in said cylinder having acheck valve at its inner end and adapted to move into and out of thecombustion chamber, and means for opening the check valve in the sleevepiston at the inner end of its stroke.

7. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber,a cylinder adjacent thereto, a sleeve piston in said cylinder having acheck valve at its inner end and adapted to move into and out of thecombustion chamber, and a second piston within the sleeve piston havingan oppositely-arranged check valve and adapted to compress an explosivemixture in the sleeve piston.

8. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber,a cylinder adjacent thereto, a sleeve piston in said cylinder having acheck valve at its inner end and adapted to move into and out of thecombustion chamber, a second piston within the sleeve piston having anoppo sitely-arranged check valve and adapted to compress an explosivemixture in the sleeve piston, and means for opening the check valve inthe sleeve piston to permit the compressed charge to flow from thepiston into the combustion chamber.

9. A rotary internal combustion en ine comprising an annular combustioncham er, a revolving piston therein, a cylinder adjacent thereto andadapted to communicate therewith, a pair of pistons operating therein,and means for reciprocating the pistons with strokes of unequal lengthwhereby said pis: tons are brought near together at one end of theirstrokes and materially apart at their opposite ends.

10. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising an annular combustionchamber,

a rotary piston therein, a cylinder adjacent to the combustion chamber,a pair of pistons operating therein, means for reciprocating the pistonsin said cylinder, in like directions but with strokes of unequal length,whereby said pistons are brought near together at the inner ends oftheir strokes and materially apart at the outer ends of their strokes.

11. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber,a rotary piston therein, a cylinder adjacent to the combustion chamber,a pair of pistons operating therein, means for reciprocating the pistonsin said cylinder, in like directions but with strokes of unequal length,whereby said pistons are brought near together at the inner ends oftheir strokes and materially apart at their opposite ends, andoppositely disposed check valves in said reciprocatory pistons.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20 day of July,1915.

CHARLES C. BOYD.

